Goosey, goosey, gander...

There is much in the physical world to be distressed about - floods, fires and extreme weather - much of it exacerbated by our very own selves. But we also have to be amazed and delighted by the many natural wonders that we see. I think that is what motivates us to do better.

Two weeks ago when we returned to High Park, the Canada Geese presented us with fuzzy, yellow blobs of new chicks. This week they were gangly pre-teens. 

Here are some interesting facts about these iconic bird.

• They mate for life with a very low 'divorce' rate and can be together for as long as 20 years.
• They mate 'assortively' which means that larger birds choose larger mates and smaller ones choose smaller mates.
• There are 11 confirmed subspecies with the under parts of each species varying in colour from light pearl-grey to chestnut and blackish brown (I will leave it to someone else to check that one out!).
• They communicate with about 13 different calls and talk to each other in flight (we heard them in full voice overhead). Goslings start to communicate with their parents when they are still in the egg.
• Although goslings generally remain with their parents, sometimes they form 'gang broods' with goslings from different broods hanging around together in the care of at least one adult.
• A group of geese can be called a 'flock', a 'chevron' or a 'string'.

So, yes, they leave a lot of green poop on the ground but they are one of Mother Nature's wonders.

A reminder to the Tuesday gang that we begin hill-training this week.